Bryant Nash accepted a pass on the wing, took a dribble then completed a behind-the-back pass to a teammate during fullcourt 5-on-5 drills Monday at Allen Fieldhouse.
A behind-the-back pass?
Seems when Nash, Kansas’ still raw 6-foot-6, 205-pound sophomore forward from Carrollton, Texas, is relaxed, like back home on the playground, he’s capable of some flash.
“I went back home over the summer and played pick-up with friends. I brought the ball down court, worked on my handles, pull-up jumpers off the screen and off the dribble,” said Nash, who hopes to be more of a threat on offense as his career progresses.
He had six assists, five turnovers and 16 total points in 24 games his true freshman season.
“My high school coach helped me a lot. We did a lot of drills, like an individual workout,” Nash said of Turner High coach Mark Bishop. “I put in a lot of work (since the end of last season) and hope it pays off.”
Still a work in progress, Nash realizes minutes will be tough to come by his sophomore season.
Not only does KU have four returning starters in Nick Collison, Drew Gooden, Jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich, but experienced reserves in Jeff Carey and Brett Ballard. Add to that four freshmen and that’s a lot of bodies vying for precious minutes.
“Everybody on the team wants to play bad,” said Nash. “It all goes in to what you put into it. I worked hard on my game over the summer so I could do what it takes to play as much as possible. Coach hasn’t told me, but I think it’s there. I think it’s possible (to earn minutes). I am thinking positive.”
Nash realizes the way to his coach’s heart is through defense and rebounding more than behind-the-back passes. Another area where he could contribute is rebounding.
KU lost 14 boards a game in the departed Kenny Gregory and Eric Chenowith.
“I’m not sure what my role will be,” Nash said, “but I predict it’s going to be getting to the board, getting a bunch of rebounds. I can play both the 3 and 4. Coach has mentioned playing the 4, too.”
The 4-position, as in power forward where Gooden, Collison, Carey and freshman Wayne Simien also reside.
“I know I’ll be battling some of ’em,” Nash said of the talented rookie crop which includes Simien, who continues to impress at practice.
“Like coach says, he has to go out and recruit good players every year for the future of the program. Hopefully I’ll do what it takes to play. I do think I am versatile and can play inside and outside.
“I’m not really sure what role he has in mind for me,” Nash added. “It depends on coach and what he asks me to do. I know coach looks for me to get some boards and not make turnovers.”
He’ll do anything to get in the game.
“I really don’t like the bench,” said Nash, who entered 24 games a year ago, averaging 5.1 minutes in those games.
For the year, he hit seven of 25 shots (28 percent), going 0-for-5 from three-point land. He also grabbed 29 boards with five steals.
“Probably shooting,” Nash said, asked what he’s improved on the most since last season. “I have not showed it yet (at KU). Hopefully this year I will show a little more improvement there.”
Nash’s teammates believe in him.
“I think Bryant has a tremendous amount of ability,” Boschee said. “If he keeps working hard that kid has the body of an NBA player.”
Bryant Nash accepted a pass on the wing, took a dribble then completed a behind-the-back pass to a teammate during fullcourt 5-on-5 drills Monday at Allen Fieldhouse.
A behind-the-back pass?
Seems when Nash, Kansas’ still raw 6-foot-6, 205-pound sophomore forward from Carrollton, Texas, is relaxed, like back home on the playground, he’s capable of some flash.
“I went back home over the summer and played pick-up with friends. I brought the ball down court, worked on my handles, pull-up jumpers off the screen and off the dribble,” said Nash, who hopes to be more of a threat on offense as his career progresses.
He had six assists, five turnovers and 16 total points in 24 games his true freshman season.
“My high school coach helped me a lot. We did a lot of drills, like an individual workout,” Nash said of Turner High coach Mark Bishop. “I put in a lot of work (since the end of last season) and hope it pays off.”
Still a work in progress, Nash realizes minutes will be tough to come by his sophomore season.
Not only does KU have four returning starters in Nick Collison, Drew Gooden, Jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich, but experienced reserves in Jeff Carey and Brett Ballard. Add to that four freshmen and that’s a lot of bodies vying for precious minutes.
“Everybody on the team wants to play bad,” said Nash. “It all goes in to what you put into it. I worked hard on my game over the summer so I could do what it takes to play as much as possible. Coach hasn’t told me, but I think it’s there. I think it’s possible (to earn minutes). I am thinking positive.”
Nash realizes the way to his coach’s heart is through defense and rebounding more than behind-the-back passes. Another area where he could contribute is rebounding.
KU lost 14 boards a game in the departed Kenny Gregory and Eric Chenowith.
“I’m not sure what my role will be,” Nash said, “but I predict it’s going to be getting to the board, getting a bunch of rebounds. I can play both the 3 and 4. Coach has mentioned playing the 4, too.”
The 4-position, as in power forward where Gooden, Collison, Carey and freshman Wayne Simien also reside.
“I know I’ll be battling some of ’em,” Nash said of the talented rookie crop which includes Simien, who continues to impress at practice.
“Like coach says, he has to go out and recruit good players every year for the future of the program. Hopefully I’ll do what it takes to play. I do think I am versatile and can play inside and outside.
“I’m not really sure what role he has in mind for me,” Nash added. “It depends on coach and what he asks me to do. I know coach looks for me to get some boards and not make turnovers.”
He’ll do anything to get in the game.
“I really don’t like the bench,” said Nash, who entered 24 games a year ago, averaging 5.1 minutes in those games.
For the year, he hit seven of 25 shots (28 percent), going 0-for-5 from three-point land. He also grabbed 29 boards with five steals.
“Probably shooting,” Nash said, asked what he’s improved on the most since last season. “I have not showed it yet (at KU). Hopefully this year I will show a little more improvement there.”
Nash’s teammates believe in him.
“I think Bryant has a tremendous amount of ability,” Boschee said. “If he keeps working hard that kid has the body of an NBA player.”
Bryant Nash accepted a pass on the wing, took a dribble then completed a behind-the-back pass to a teammate during fullcourt 5-on-5 drills Monday at Allen Fieldhouse.
A behind-the-back pass?
Seems when Nash, Kansas’ still raw 6-foot-6, 205-pound sophomore forward from Carrollton, Texas, is relaxed, like back home on the playground, he’s capable of some flash.
“I went back home over the summer and played pick-up with friends. I brought the ball down court, worked on my handles, pull-up jumpers off the screen and off the dribble,” said Nash, who hopes to be more of a threat on offense as his career progresses.
He had six assists, five turnovers and 16 total points in 24 games his true freshman season.
“My high school coach helped me a lot. We did a lot of drills, like an individual workout,” Nash said of Turner High coach Mark Bishop. “I put in a lot of work (since the end of last season) and hope it pays off.”
Still a work in progress, Nash realizes minutes will be tough to come by his sophomore season.
Not only does KU have four returning starters in Nick Collison, Drew Gooden, Jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich, but experienced reserves in Jeff Carey and Brett Ballard. Add to that four freshmen and that’s a lot of bodies vying for precious minutes.
“Everybody on the team wants to play bad,” said Nash. “It all goes in to what you put into it. I worked hard on my game over the summer so I could do what it takes to play as much as possible. Coach hasn’t told me, but I think it’s there. I think it’s possible (to earn minutes). I am thinking positive.”
Nash realizes the way to his coach’s heart is through defense and rebounding more than behind-the-back passes. Another area where he could contribute is rebounding.
KU lost 14 boards a game in the departed Kenny Gregory and Eric Chenowith.
“I’m not sure what my role will be,” Nash said, “but I predict it’s going to be getting to the board, getting a bunch of rebounds. I can play both the 3 and 4. Coach has mentioned playing the 4, too.”
The 4-position, as in power forward where Gooden, Collison, Carey and freshman Wayne Simien also reside.
“I know I’ll be battling some of ’em,” Nash said of the talented rookie crop which includes Simien, who continues to impress at practice.
“Like coach says, he has to go out and recruit good players every year for the future of the program. Hopefully I’ll do what it takes to play. I do think I am versatile and can play inside and outside.
“I’m not really sure what role he has in mind for me,” Nash added. “It depends on coach and what he asks me to do. I know coach looks for me to get some boards and not make turnovers.”
He’ll do anything to get in the game.
“I really don’t like the bench,” said Nash, who entered 24 games a year ago, averaging 5.1 minutes in those games.
For the year, he hit seven of 25 shots (28 percent), going 0-for-5 from three-point land. He also grabbed 29 boards with five steals.
“Probably shooting,” Nash said, asked what he’s improved on the most since last season. “I have not showed it yet (at KU). Hopefully this year I will show a little more improvement there.”
Nash’s teammates believe in him.
“I think Bryant has a tremendous amount of ability,” Boschee said. “If he keeps working hard that kid has the body of an NBA player.”
Bryant Nash accepted a pass on the wing, took a dribble then completed a behind-the-back pass to a teammate during fullcourt 5-on-5 drills Monday at Allen Fieldhouse.
A behind-the-back pass?
Seems when Nash, Kansas’ still raw 6-foot-6, 205-pound sophomore forward from Carrollton, Texas, is relaxed, like back home on the playground, he’s capable of some flash.
“I went back home over the summer and played pick-up with friends. I brought the ball down court, worked on my handles, pull-up jumpers off the screen and off the dribble,” said Nash, who hopes to be more of a threat on offense as his career progresses.
He had six assists, five turnovers and 16 total points in 24 games his true freshman season.
“My high school coach helped me a lot. We did a lot of drills, like an individual workout,” Nash said of Turner High coach Mark Bishop. “I put in a lot of work (since the end of last season) and hope it pays off.”
Still a work in progress, Nash realizes minutes will be tough to come by his sophomore season.
Not only does KU have four returning starters in Nick Collison, Drew Gooden, Jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich, but experienced reserves in Jeff Carey and Brett Ballard. Add to that four freshmen and that’s a lot of bodies vying for precious minutes.
“Everybody on the team wants to play bad,” said Nash. “It all goes in to what you put into it. I worked hard on my game over the summer so I could do what it takes to play as much as possible. Coach hasn’t told me, but I think it’s there. I think it’s possible (to earn minutes). I am thinking positive.”
Nash realizes the way to his coach’s heart is through defense and rebounding more than behind-the-back passes. Another area where he could contribute is rebounding.
KU lost 14 boards a game in the departed Kenny Gregory and Eric Chenowith.
“I’m not sure what my role will be,” Nash said, “but I predict it’s going to be getting to the board, getting a bunch of rebounds. I can play both the 3 and 4. Coach has mentioned playing the 4, too.”
The 4-position, as in power forward where Gooden, Collison, Carey and freshman Wayne Simien also reside.
“I know I’ll be battling some of ’em,” Nash said of the talented rookie crop which includes Simien, who continues to impress at practice.
“Like coach says, he has to go out and recruit good players every year for the future of the program. Hopefully I’ll do what it takes to play. I do think I am versatile and can play inside and outside.
“I’m not really sure what role he has in mind for me,” Nash added. “It depends on coach and what he asks me to do. I know coach looks for me to get some boards and not make turnovers.”
He’ll do anything to get in the game.
“I really don’t like the bench,” said Nash, who entered 24 games a year ago, averaging 5.1 minutes in those games.
For the year, he hit seven of 25 shots (28 percent), going 0-for-5 from three-point land. He also grabbed 29 boards with five steals.
“Probably shooting,” Nash said, asked what he’s improved on the most since last season. “I have not showed it yet (at KU). Hopefully this year I will show a little more improvement there.”
Nash’s teammates believe in him.
“I think Bryant has a tremendous amount of ability,” Boschee said. “If he keeps working hard that kid has the body of an NBA player.”
